In the midst of the shattered ruins, a massive bonfire crackled and roared.
A gigantic slab of some unknown beast's meat turned slowly over the flames, fat sizzling and dripping down into the fire. Each drop exploded in a burst of sparks and smoke, that perfect Maillard aroma washing over the camp and making mouths water.
The Beasts Pirates stood there, slack-jawed.
In front of the fire, their captain—"Strongest Creature in the World" Kaido of the Beasts—had one arm thrown heavily around the shoulders of a black-haired man who was just as blood-stained and battered as he was.
The two of them were laughing.
Drinking.
Leaning on each other like old friends.
…Huh?
Just a few minutes ago you two were literally tearing the sky in half and trying to sink the island, you lunatics!
Now you're shoulder-to-shoulder, drinking like brothers?!
Your wounds haven't even finished bleeding yet!
How does that make any sense at all?!
"It makes perfect sense."
Overalls Fatso stroked his stubbly chin, one hand casually turning a skewered chicken wing over the fire. He nodded with great solemnity, as if explaining a profound truth.
"Our Boss Kaido has always been a bold, straightforward man. Even if someone was once his mortal enemy, as long as they earn his respect, he'll drop all past grudges and treat them sincerely."
He suddenly grinned, puffing himself up.
"Back when Boss Kaido first founded the Beasts Pirates, everything was still in its early stages. We were desperate for strong, talented people with special abilities."
"So he traveled across the seas, risking death again and again, until he finally found me—the 'World's Number One Scientist'!"
"And then, with the utmost sincerity, he tried to recruit me!"
The surrounding pirates' eyes lit up. They turned to Queen, gazes brimming with admiration.
"Really?!"
"That's incredible!"
"I never knew Boss Queen had that kind of history!"
"Boss Queen is awesome!"
"..."
Soaking in the praise, Queen lit a cigar, planted his hands on his hips, and puffed out his round belly, laughing smugly.
"Too bad for him, back then I was one of the leaders of MADS—the world's strongest scientific organization! My future was shining bright! How could I possibly give that up and become a mere pirate?"
"So I refused him on the spot. Firmly. Decisively."
At that moment, King, who'd been watching Darren like a hawk, spoke in a cold, clipped voice:
"The truth is… MADS had already been forcibly disbanded by the World Government. You were wanted, hunted by both the Government and the Marines. Kaido-san saved you from the CP Agents that were chasing you."
Queen's face stiffened.
He snapped, "That's basically what I said! Just tell them Big Brother Kaido tried to recruit me and I turned him down!"
King's tone remained utterly flat. "Kaido-san's bounty was far higher than yours. The Government's pursuit of him was many times more intense. You were afraid you'd be dragged down if you stayed with MADS, so you followed him."
A vein bulged on Queen's forehead.
"Afraid? With my strength? When Big Brother Kaido tried to recruit me, I fought him for hours before barely losing! I never truly gave up—but in the end, I was overwhelmed by his overwhelming Haki and majestic spirit! That's why I joined the Beasts Pirates, out of respect for him!"
The nearby pirates stared at him, stunned.
"Boss Queen… fought Lord Kaido for hours…?"
"That strong?!"
King sneered. "Funny. I clearly remember you getting one-shot by a single Thunder Bagua."
Queen: "..."
Thud, thud, thud—
Several pirates tipped straight over onto their backs.
---
By the bonfire, Kaido was oblivious to the chaos Queen had stirred up.
He had an arm hooked around Darren's shoulder, breath reeking of alcohol, face flushed red, voice loud enough to shake the flames.
"Wororororo! Young Darren," he boomed, sighing with drunken regret. "Why do you insist on opposing me?"
"In this world, there's no one who can defeat me. I am already the 'Strongest in the World'!"
"Only you—someone who has also cultivated an 'Indestructible Body'—you are the only one who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 'Beast' Kaido!"
Darren raised his cup, took a sip, and smiled slightly.
"Kaido, if I wanted to join you, I would have accepted your offer when you captured me a year ago. No need to drag this out until now."
Kaido shook his head hard, long mane swaying, voice like rolling thunder.
"No. Back then you were a Marine, sworn to fight to the death. I could understand your refusal then."
"We were enemies, but I respected your resolve."
"But things are different now, aren't they, Young Darren?"
"You've seen it for yourself—the darkness of the World Government. You were betrayed by the Marines you served so faithfully… You don't have any reason to cling to those old loyalties anymore."
Kaido stretched his arms wide, revealing a chest covered in criss-crossing scars, then burst into loud, booming laughter.
"The boundless sea of freedom is right in front of you!"
"And more importantly…"
He thrust out a massive, scarred hand toward Darren, grinning broadly.
"This isn't recruitment—it's an alliance!"
"You want to topple the World Government, don't you? So do I!"
"If you and I join forces, overturning this world… would be child's play!"
Darren glanced at that rough, calloused palm, then shook his head with a faint smile.
"I refuse."
Kaido froze.
A second later, veins bulged across his forehead, his eyes going bloodshot. "Why?!"
"We share a common enemy!"
"You felt it yourself in the North Blue, didn't you? Your strength alone can't stand against those five old geezers!"
Darren lit a cigar, took a drag, and replied calmly:
"There's no complicated reason. It's just… a matter of principle."
Kaido stared at him blankly for a heartbeat.
He almost blurted out, You actually have principles?
Darren rolled his eyes.
"I might not have many bottom lines, and my hands are certainly not clean… but even I have my own principles."
He exhaled a plume of smoke, violet eyes flickering across his mind's eye—an old man's silhouette, sitting beneath the sunset, quietly watching the sea.
If I had to give a reason…
It's simply that I don't want to disappoint that old man.
"Damn it!!"
Realising Darren wasn't going to budge, Kaido slammed his fist into the ground in helpless rage, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
"I don't get it!"
"If you won't join me, I'll have no choice but to kill you!"
"What a waste!!!"
The earth trembled under his punch.
Then, as if all his fury suddenly drained into despair, he threw back his head and started bawling like a heartbroken child.
"Even if I don't kill you, those five old fossils from the World Government will do it sooner or later! Waaah, waaah, waaah, waaah—!"
"If we joined forces, no one in this world could stand against us!"
Kaido howled, wailing and sobbing, tears and snot running freely down his scarred face.
The watching Beasts Pirates stood frozen in place.
Darren's eyelid twitched violently, a web of metaphorical black lines spreading across his forehead.
He had always known Kaido was a heavyweight drunk.
But this level of emotional collapse was… honestly, a bit much.
Strongest Creature in the World, huh?
Right now… he looked more like the World's Strongest Crybaby.
To be continued...